Chapter By-Laws

Constitution and Bylawsof theMidwest Chapter of the American Musicological SocietyRevision of April 1997

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I. Name

The name of the Chapter shall be the Midwest Chapter of the American Musicological Society.

ARTICLE II. Object

The object of the Chapter shall parallel the object of the Society.

ARTICLE III. Membership

Every member of the American Musicological Society in good standing is eligible to join the Midwest Chapter, except when otherwise stipulated in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV. Council Members

A. When requested to do so by the Society, the members of the Chapter shall elect a Regular Member to the Council of the Society. The Regular Member shall be a scholar who has made a notable contribution to the stated object of the Society. Regular Members shall serve a term of three years. Reports on Council meetings to the Chapter may be made orally or in writing.

B. When requested to do so by the Society, the members of the Chapter shall elect a Student Member to the Council of the Society. The Student Member shall be a member of the Society and the Chapter who has embarked on a doctoral program in musicology at an institution within the geographical area of the Chapter and who has attended at least one meeting of the Chapter. The Student Member shall serve a term of one year. Reports on Council meetings to the Chapter may be made orally or in writing.

ARTICLE V. Officers

A. The officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

B. The officers shall be elected by the members of the Midwest Chapter.

ARTICLE VI. Committees

A. Except when otherwise stipulated in the Bylaws, the President of the Chapter shall appoint chairs and members of committees and shall himself or herself be an ex-officio member of all committees.

B. The program and nominating committees shall be standing committees.

ARTICLE VII. Publications

The Chapter shall publish a Newsletter if and when it deems such publication desirable, but not less than once a year.

ARTICLE VIII. Meetings

A. The Chapter shall hold two meetings each year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring, at such times and places as shall be determined by the officers of the Chapter.

B. The annual business meeting of the Chapter shall be held at the Spring meeting, although business may be conducted at the Fall meeting at the
discretion of the President.

ARTICLE IX. Amendments

A. The Constitution of the Chapter may be amended at an annual meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, provided the text of the amendment is circulated to the members at least one month before the annual meeting.

B. The Bylaws of the Chapter may be amended by a majority vote of the members present and voting at the annual meeting, provided the text of the
amendment is circulated to the members at least one month before the annual meeting.

C. Amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws may be proposed by any three members in writing at least two months before the annual meeting.

ARTICLE X. Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of the Chapter, any assets remaining shall be turned over to the Executive Board of the American Musicological Society.

ARTICLE XI. Availability of the Constitution

Copies of this Constitution and Bylaws shall be available to members at all meetings of the Chapter, or by written request to the Secretary.

BYLAWS

TO ARTICLE III. Membership

1. The Midwest is defined to include all the following states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. However, membership in the Chapter is open to any member of the Society, including members from states not mentioned above.

2. Annual dues shall be of an amount determined by a majority vote of the members present at the Annual Spring Business Meeting. Dues shall be payable each Fall. After February 15, members who have not yet paid current dues will be considered delinquent, and, at the discretion of the Treasurer, may be removed from the mailing list. Members in arrears on August 1 shall be removed from the membership rolls.

TO ARTICLE IV. Council Members

A.1. Upon notification that the Chapter is responsible for electing a Regular Member to the Council of the Society, the Nominating Committee, not later than nine weeks before the next Annual Business Meeting, will submit to the President the names of two nominees for the Council, together with a written statement from each nominee, informing the committee that he or she will serve if elected.

A.2. Additional nominations may be submitted by mail: to be valid, mail nominations must be signed by three Chapter members, must contain the nominee's written statement that he or she will serve if elected, and must reach the President not later than seven weeks before the Chapter meeting.

B.1. Not later than one month before the annual meeting, the President will submit the names of all properly nominated candidates to the Chapter members. Members may vote by mail if they so desire.

B.2. At the annual business meeting the candidate receiving the majority of the total votes cast, both by mail and at the meeting, will be considered
elected to the Council. Additional nominations may be made at the meeting. If no majority is reached on the first ballot, balloting will be continued among the members present at the meeting until the final decision is reached. In the event that more than one ballot is required, the name of the candidate receiving the smallest number of votes in one ballot shall be withdrawn before the next ballot.

TO ARTICLE V. Officers

A.1. Not later than nine weeks before each annual meeting, the nominating committee will submit to the President the names of two nominees for the office or offices becoming vacant that year, together with a written statement from each nominee informing the committee that he or she will serve if elected.

A.2. Additional nominations may be submitted by mail. To be valid, mail nominations must be signed by three Chapter members, must contain the nominee's written statement that he or she will serve if elected, and must reach the President not later than seven weeks before the Chapter meeting.

A.3. Nominees for office shall be Chapter members who have demonstrated contributions to the stated object of the Society and who have been active in the Chapter.

B.1. Not later than two weeks before the annual meeting, the President will submit the names of all properly nominated candidates to the Chapter members. Members may vote by mail if they so desire.

B.2. At the annual business meeting, the candidate receiving the majority of the total votes cast, both by mail and at the meeting, will be considered
elected to the office for which he or she is nominated. Additional nominations may be made at the meeting. If no majority is reached on the first ballot,
balloting will be continued among the members present at the meeting until the final decision is reached. In the event that more than one ballot is required, the name of the candidate receiving the smallest number of votes in one ballot shall be withdrawn before the next ballot.

B.3. (a) Officers shall serve terms of two years, the President being elected in even-numbered years and the Secretary and Treasurer in odd-numbered years. (b) The President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve until their respective successors are elected, but may be elected to succeed themselves. (c) A vacancy in any office may be filled by the nominating committee until the next annual election.

TO ARTICLE VI. Committees

A. The Committees shall consist of not fewer than three members.

B.1. The duty of the program committee shall be to prepare the program of the meeting or meetings for which it is appointed. If feasible, one member of the committee shall be from the locality where the meeting is to be held.

B.2. The duties of the nominating committee shall be to nominate the officers designated in ARTICLE V in the manner specified in the Bylaws to
ARTICLE V. The members of the committee shall preferably represent different geographical areas within the Chapter.

B.3. Terms of members of the program committee shall be at the discretion of the President. Terms of members of the nominating committee shall be two years, concurrent with the term of the Secretary and Treasurer.

TO ARTICLE VII. Publications

The Editor of the Newsletter shall be appointed by the officers. The contents, cost, frequency of appearance, and the method of distribution of the
Newsletter shall be decided upon by the officers and the editor.

RULES

The Rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Chapter in all cases where they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Chapter.